St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-25

DEATH OF JUDGE GOODRICH.

Another old settler has dropped by the
wayside. AS the weeks go by. one and
another of the pioneers who laid the
foundation of Minnesota's grandeur are
passing away from us. Scarcely has the
grave closed over one until it is re-
opened TO receive another. This time it
is one of the most distinguished of that
little band of early pioneers whose death
we are called upon to lament. His most
eminent public services are recorded
in the judicial records of the state, for
Judge GooDRIcH was the first chief
justice of the supreme court of Mime
sofa and was member of the first COM
mission to revise and codify the laws
and to prepare a system of pleadings
and practice in the state courts. During
subsequent public career in the diplo-
matte service of the nation, Judge
GOODRICH maintained that high stand
ard of ability and probity of character
for which he was noted in his discharge
of the various public trusts with which
he had been hOnored at home.
fall the old settlers there was no
one who had d more extensive acquaint-
ance among the new corners than Judge
GoopRCH. A man possessed of the
most extraordinary genial qualities and
kindlineSs of speech and manner he at
tracted people toward him. He had a
good word for everybody and always ex-
tended a helping hand toward those who
needed assistance. He knew every
body and everybody knew him. He
was natures nobleman TO whom homage
was inStinctively paid.
In politics he was one of the most in
dependent of men. He was always
guided by his convictions, and like most
men Of his type, usually found himself
Unidentified with the minority party. He
was man of the intensest patriotism
and cared nothing for popularity, so
long as he thought he was doing what
was best for his country. He was in
the highest and pureSt sense u patriot.
The love of country was to him an alb
sorbing passion and he lost no occasion,
on the bench or elsewhere, to inspire his
cOuntrymen with devotion to the GOV
eminent of the fathers, and to look
upon the constitution as a sacred cove
nant not to be broken.
AS a juriSt Judge GOODRICH was in a
very marked and eminent degree an
original thinker, and was controlled in
his official capacity by general princi-
pies, growing out of the reason and ma
ture Of law. He was devout believer
in the plain and familiar maxims of
common sense, and always brought
them to bear in the discharge of his
public duties. Nothing obscured his
moral perceptions. His devotion to the
demands of justice was unmeasured,
and his vision, when he surveyed the
equities Of case, was unclouded.
But it was as the courteous and ac-
complished gentleman in the walks of
private life, the sincere and disinter-
ested friend, the exemplary citizen, that
Judge GooDEIcH's memory will be held
In tendereSt esteem. His social virtues
shone 50 brilliantly under all circum-
stances that his personal friends will
always recall his memory first and most
tenderly i'll connection with their dis
play. How often have we heard him
paint the dawn of civilization i'll this
region. and delineate the characters of
the pioneers of Minnesota. But the
musical tongue is still. the beaming eye
is closed and long. useful and in
StructiVe life is closed forever.